When choosing a rug for a room, I like to go as big as I can. I think that when a rug covers the room, it makes the room feel larger and less choppy. So if possible, I will usually choose a rug size that is about 6”-8” off the edges of the room if there are no vents on the floor. If there are vents on the floor, I usually use that as my measuring point to start the rug. If the rug you choose isn’t customizable, then I would suggest all the upholstery pieces in the room be on the rug. Definitely at least the the front legs of the upholstery pieces, if not all the legs.

In a dining room, the rule of thumb is that your rug extends 24” from the edge of your dining table so that when you pull out your dining chair, it will remain on the rug. This is usually what I will do for a client’s dining room if we don’t go 6”-8” from the edges of the room.

As far as style of rugs, I think this is really up to the design of the room. But I like to make sure the rug I pick for each room makes sense to what that room is used for. For a family room, I like to choose a durable and cozy rug. For a living room that you spend less time in, you can pick a little more of a delicate rug but also depends on a client’s preference. For a dining room, I like to make sure I pick something durable and also something that doesn’t have too high of a pile so that chairs can slide easily. From there, pattern and color is all up to the overall design of the room.